IFB launches Farm Bill Working Group

Jun 16, 2025

By Tammie Soup

Illinois Farm Bureau will solicit members to be part of a new Farm Bill Working Group charged with examining all the titles in the legislation to consider areas for improvement.

As reauthorization of the next farm bill could happen within the next year, the group will focus on the following farm bill.

“The Farm Bill Working Group will be a great opportunity for our grassroots process to succeed, with a diverse group of farmers delivering for Illinois agriculture,” IFB President Brian Duncan said. “It will allow Illinois Farm Bureau members to identify what is working and what is not working in the farm bill. The goal is to be prepared with recommendations when the next farm bill is up for re-authorization.”

The working group may provide policy submittals through IFB’s resolutions process.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.